Vancouver bans smoking in public parks

Vancouver has become the latest British Columbia city to prohibit smoking in all of its parks, public playgrounds and on public beaches, a ban scheduled to take effect on September 1.

No smoking in Stanley’s park

The Vancouver Parks Board voted the ban unanimously on Monday, following actions previously taken by New Westminster, Richmond, Abbotsford, Whistler, North Vancouver and White Rock.

The board heard from such citizens as Dr. Stuart Kreisman, a physician at St. Paul’s Hospital, who complained about cigarette smoke encountered as he jogs along the popular Stanley Park seawall.

“Quite frankly I’m tired of having multiple daily exposure of second hand smoke while attempting to exercise in a place that’s meant for healthful enjoyment,” Kreisman said, quoted in a Vancouver Sun article.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Union has raised questions about the ban and how it will be enforced.

Several Vancouver public spaces – notably gardens of Queen Elizabeth Park, and Stanley Park – are major magnets for foreign tourists.